BM1001 1In/1Out USB MIDI Interface

The USB 1X1 MIDI Interface is a complete USB-to-MIDI solution, equipped with a USB connection to your computer and a 1-in/1-out 16-channel MIDI connection to your MIDI devices. Tiny unit comes with USB and MIDI extension cables, features MIDI activity indicators, and works for Windows or Mac. Single MIDI in and out connectors make it perfect for connecting a keyboard or controller to your computer quickly and easily. Powered by the USB port. USB supports connection of up to 127 devices simultaneously, any of which may be hot-plugged from the USB bus at any time. Requirements: Windows 98 SE, 2000, ME, or XP; Mac OS X 10.1.5 or greater.

The USB 1X1 MIDI Interface is a complete USB-to-MIDI solution, equipped with a USB connection to your computer and a 1-in/1-out 16-channel MIDI connection to your MIDI devices. Tiny unit comes with USB and MIDI extension cables, features MIDI activity indicators, and works for Windows or Mac. Single MIDI in and out connectors make it perfect for connecting a keyboard or controller to your computer quickly and easily. Powered by the USB port. USB supports connection of up to 127 devices simultaneously, any of which may be hot-plugged from the USB bus at any time. Requirements: Windows 98 SE, 2000, ME, or XP; Mac OS X 10.1.5 or greater.

Tips & Notes•There is no MIDI-Software included in the product contents of the USB-MIDI-cable. Please purchase the software separately. Choose the correct USB audio device within the software and follow the software’s operating instructions.• On the USB-MIDI-cable there is one LED available for each “MIDI-in” and “MIDIout”. These display the transfer of data.•The power for the electronics of the USB-MIDI-cable is supplied via USB.•Please make sure that MIDI plugs of the USB-MIDI-cable are allocated correctly to MIDI sockets of you MIDI device, see “Connection”. If the connections are interchanged a transfer of data will not be possible.•Also, do not interrupt the connection of the computer and the MIDI device during running data transfer. You risk crashing not only the MIDI software but the operating system, too.•Always connect the USB plug to the same USB port of your computer, otherwise the driver might be installed again.

Many commentators suggest that MIDI technology may become obsolete within the next ten years. USB cables offer a much more advanced way of transmitting data over a cable - both in terms of speed and in terms of bandwidth. In recent years, the USB port has become common place on keyboards and external music outboards. Indeed, some more basic models only offer USB out (and in) - completely replacing the MIDI in/out device. However, as most older keyboards (and electronic musical instruments) often only have the MIDI in/out as a way of transmission, and virtually all laptops and PC's do not have MIDI inputs, then if you want to record or playback a work on keyboard via your computer, you're going to need some way of doing this.

The product is used to connect a MIDI device (e.g. a keyboard) to the USB port of a computer.

The problems associated with using a soundcard as a solution

Traditionally, transmitting MIDI into the computer has been achieved through buying and inserting a sound card into your PC, which has a MIDI in/out port (usually via an adaptor which plugs into your MIDI cable/s). However, there are obvious drawbacks to such a solution:

• It's time consuming to set up - it involves opening up your PC, inserting the card into a spare PCI slot (if you have one) and then installing separately supplied software.

• It's usually not possible to do this with a laptop, and a laptop is increasingly the prefered device for most home computer requirements.USB to MIDI Cable - the perfect solution

The USB to MIDI cable is a great way of solving this problem, and generally needn't cost the earth. In fact, it's usually cheaper to do it this way than by buying a specialist sound card.

• A MIDI to USB cable does not require any "powering" as the cable is already powered via the laptop (or PC).

• It's quick and easy to connect - simply plug the USB cable into your computer, and the MIDI cable (which will have to connections - an "IN" and an "OUT") into your devices in and out.

• A MIDI to USB cable then becomes a great way of capturing your musical recordings and playing them back at a later stage. Applications could include:

a. recording piano works which you are in the process of practising. You can then play them back via your computer (with appropriately installed software such as Cubase or Logic) and assess your performance. Such software also makes it possible to catalogue and compare these renditions.

b. build up sophisticated multi-track recordings. Music software enables you to record several tracks, and layer these one on top of another (for example, a bass sound, then a piano sound, and perhaps a string accompaniment). The USB to MIDI cable will make it possible to transmit all these ideas to your computer.